great business powerpoint presentations

What It Takes to Give a Great Presentation

by Carmine Gallo

Summary .   

I was sitting across the table from a Silicon Valley CEO who had pioneered a technology that touches many of our lives — the flash memory that stores data on smartphones, digital cameras, and computers. He was a frequent guest on CNBC and had been delivering business presentations for at least 20 years before we met. And yet, the CEO wanted to sharpen his public speaking skills.

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Home Blog Presentation Ideas 10+ Outstanding PowerPoint Presentation Examples and Templates

10+ Outstanding PowerPoint Presentation Examples and Templates

Nobody said it’s easy to make a PowerPoint presentation . There are multiple design decisions to consider, like which layout is appropriate for the content you have to present, font pairing, color schemes, and whether to use animated elements or not. 

Making these choices when working under the clock is overwhelming for most people, especially if you only intend to make a report more visually appealing. For this very reason, we curated a selection of 11 good PowerPoint presentation examples categories in different niches to give you insights into what’s valued and how to take your presentations to a professional quality. All the templates used on each case will be linked for easy access.

Table of Contents

General Guidelines for Professional-Quality PowerPoint Presentations

Business pitch powerpoint presentation examples, marketing plan powerpoint presentation examples, company profile powerpoint presentation examples, quarterly/annual results presentation examples, project proposal presentation examples, training presentation examples, change management presentation examples, industry analysis presentation examples, financial planning examples, inspirational presentation examples, academic presentation examples, final words.

Before introducing our presentation slide examples, we need to discuss a list of factors that transform an average slide into a professional-quality one. 

Design Principles

For any professional-level slide deck, a consistent layout, color scheme, and font pairing are required throughout the presentation. The slides should remain uncluttered, with proper care of white balance across their composition, and stick to the 10-20-30 rule of presentations ’s concept of one concept per slide. 

Contrast between text and background color must comply with web design accessibility standards , meaning to work with a 4.5:1 contrast ratio for normal text, with exceptions for larger text. You can find more information in our article on accessibility for presentations .

A general rule in any graphic design project is to stick with fonts with ample legibility, like Arial, Helvetica, or Calibri. These are known as sans-serif fonts, and they work better than serif ones (i.e., Times New Roman) for larger text blocks.

Avoid using more than two different font families in your presentation; otherwise, the overall design will lose cohesion. Since you ought to ensure readability, the minimum size for body text should be 18pt, opting for larger variations and/or bold text for titles.

Using a combination of font pairing and font sizing helps create a hierarchy in your slides’ written content. For more insights on this topic, browse our article on fonts for presentations .

Color Scheme

Sticking to a color palette selection is one of the first design decisions to make when creating a custom slide deck . Colors have their own psychological impact on presentations, as explained in our article on color theory , so presenters must stick to 3-4 colors to avoid mixing up content in the slides. That being said, the colors have to be carefully selected according to the typical color scheme configurations, and using contrast to highlight key points on presentation slides.

Slide Layout

We can apply multiple graphic design guidelines to create professional-quality presentation slides, but in order to simplify the process, here are the key points to take into account:

• Grids and Guides: Divide your slide into sections using guides in PowerPoint or Google Slides. Then, you can build a grid that helps place elements and catch the viewer’s interest as they follow a logical flow while looking at the slide.
• Whitespace : Empty space is not your enemy. Slides shouldn’t be dense or feel hard on the eyes to read; therefore, work with a minimum of 30% whitespace.

Multimedia Elements

According to our expertise, video presentations and animation effects certainly increase the retention rate of the content you present. This is because they reduce the tiresome 2D presentation layout and add dynamism to the slides. Testing their functionality across different devices is a must to incorporate these elements into your presentation, especially if we consider that not all PowerPoint animation effects are compatible with Google Slides animations . 

Sound can be distracting in many scenarios unless you opt for an interactive presentation and require an audio track for an exercise. Action buttons in the form of quizzes or multiple-choice questions are fine examples of how we can integrate hyperlinks in interactive presentations.

The first professional PowerPoint example we will cover is when creating a problem slide business pitch. This selected business pitch PPT template has a 50/50 image-to-content balance that allows us to add images from our organization (or stick to the corporate placeholder image design) and quickly summarize the issue or need that our business aims to solve.

Remember that the selected colors for the text background area and text color are not 100% pure values—they are slight variations to reduce eye strain, making this slide a perfect choice for any kind of meeting room. Ideally, you can present up to three different problems to solve; otherwise, the text will look too small.

Another fine example of a PowerPoint presentation comes at the time of delivering an elevator pitch . As we all know, this concise presentation format requires a considerable amount of presentation aids to briefly expose each point in the speech under the allotted time frame. In this Revenue Model slide, we can find the answers to typical questions that help us shape the speech, all of them with icons and cues to remember from which areas the information comes.

If we aim to create a sponsorship pitch deck , it is important to bring proof of past sponsorship experiences to build our credibility in front of prospective sponsors. With this best PPT template tailored for sponsorship pitch presentations, we can display such data in an attractive visual format. The neat layout balances whitespace with content, with three distinctive KPI areas to talk about your history in sponsorship experiences. 

Talk about the market segmentation strategies of your marketing plan with this creative infographic template. This slide clearly illustrates that not all examples of PowerPoint presentations follow the same structure in terms of graphics-to-text balance. You can introduce data on how purchasing habits, user status, and brand loyalty influence buying decisions. Present key information about demographic & geographic segmentation and how psychographic information can provide deeper insights into consumer motivations to purchase.

Another PowerPoint example comes in the format of presenting market opportunities in marketing plans . You can list up to four points, which can be extracted from the outcomes of a SWOT analysis or from retrieved data from polls or stakeholders’ insights. The icons are entirely editable, and the crisp layout makes readability much easier.

Marketing agencies can benefit from this presentation PowerPoint example, which illustrates how easy it is to customize the content and repurpose slides for different client meetings. This and the other slides of this marketing plan slide deck allow professionals to discuss their expertise, past projects, and proposals for their target clients. In this case, the agency in question is offering insights on their work ethics through a clean slide layout with icons to flag key areas.

Our next PPT presentation example is suited for a Company Profile presentation in which we have to disclose key financial data. Thanks to the pie chart, presenters can segment revenue streams or do a balance between investments and profit. Additionally, the box placeholders allow us to deepen our knowledge of precise areas of interest.

Organizations who are looking to create a company profile can opt for a one-page arrangement to introduce the team members in charge, the overall services or products, the business model, the market, competitors, and relevant strategy information. The text boxes placed in the right area are a perfect opportunity to highlight KPIs.

In any company profile presentation, we have to introduce the organization’s Mission and Vision Statements. This presentation sample slide allows us to creatively discuss those topics. Including icons, users can summarize the primary aspects of their mission statement in one single, professionally styled slide.

Quarterly reports don’t need to be depicted as boring PDF files. We can work with clean layouts that provide information in an easy-to-follow format that focuses on the core elements of the report. This quarterly report presentation example is perfect for detailed reports as we cover all essentials in a one-page format for an employee’s performance review.

If, instead, you opt for a department-by-department approach, this slide presentation example illustrates two out of four quarters in the annual report. You can compare the product’s performance by production, allowing room to perform further optimizations based on sales behavior.

The construction industry requires a detailed presentation that covers all planned and contingency strategies for a project. Such an approach builds trust in the client, and that’s why we believe this PPT template for contractors is an essential tool for securing business deals. This presentation example template shows how to deliver a project proposal in style with accurate cost estimates.

A generic PPT project proposal template allows us to repurpose the slide for many projects—ideal for agencies, consultants, and academics. With this visual project proposal timeline, you can discuss the different stages of a project, plan for resources (both material and workforce), seek funding, or prepare for contingencies.

Once the project proposal’s core aspects are approved, teams must align efforts for project deliverables, acceptance criteria, and delivery format. This PPT presentation example illustrates a slide in a multi-team meeting to fine-tune aspects of the project deliverables, with an accurate representation of the due date and expected products.

Team training requires a framework in which the objectives of the workshop, coaching, or mentoring programs are laid out for management. HR teams can benefit from this presentation example by summarizing the objectives about missed business opportunities or expansion plans for the organization.

Before even delivering a training program, HR teams discuss the content to cover with the head of each department, mainly to spot any missing area of knowledge required for optimal operations. Presenters can repurpose this slide for that kind of training proposal presentation or the training presentation itself.

Intended for the early planning stages of a training program, this diagram is a well-rounded presentation example of how to discuss all points in one single slide, from the training budget to how to process employee feedback. We can expand each of these six topics in companionship slides.

Companies undergoing change management processes can opt to apply the DMAIC or the ADKAR frameworks to orient the workforce. This presentation slide allows management to compare both methodologies and pick the one best suited for their organization.

Since data sharing is delicate in charge management situations, implementing an information flow diagram is a good practice to orient your team, get the new owners or management the required information, and exchange information between departments.

For change management directed at process optimization, this example slide allows management to stress the importance between the current situation and the expected improved state. This PPT template can also introduce the different milestones per stage and involve the management parties per area.

Startups often present their industry analysis to procure investment from venture capitalists. This industry analysis presentation example showcases a typical FinTech segmentation. Presenters can describe the different types of crowdfunding, credit, and factoring services and provide examples of companies or platforms in each subcategory. They can discuss areas like asset management, payments, and other relevant aspects in detail, with successful stories from referents that helped shape their business model.

STEEPLE stands for Social, Technological, Economic, Ethical, Political, Legal, and Environmental factors. This framework allows us to perform a multidimensional industry analysis in which stakeholders can evaluate the appropriate approaches for venturing into a new business niche, renewing their overall strategy, or pursuing new goals based on recent industry changes, even those we don’t initially acknowledge.

The Gap Analysis concept compares a company’s current status to a desired future state. By doing so, organizations can identify deficits or areas that require improvement in alignment with the future state. Presenters can work with this metaphorical gap analysis template and express the need for a plan that bridges such a gap.

The next example of a PowerPoint presentation is oriented to the financial area, in which a consultant can refer to an organization’s asset management. By Scope, we imply the extent and boundaries of the asset management activities within an organization. It outlines what will be included in the asset management plan and what will not. On the other hand, Inventory points to a comprehensive and detailed list of all the assets owned by an organization. It includes essential information about each asset to facilitate effective management.

In financial presentations, the information must be clearly arranged so decisions can be made easily. In this case, we observe how a financial dashboard template can represent an organization’s relevant KPIs.

Think about TEDx presentations or Pecha-Kucha . They all have one factor in common: quality graphics to talk about inspirational stories. Graphics can feel overwhelming for some presenters, which ends in picking low-quality pictures or stock images unsuitable for the context of your slide deck. For this reason, we highly recommend you implement vector illustrations into your motivational presentation slides. Easy to customize, they are a valuable asset to mix & match PPT templates and create your custom deck.

Aligning efforts toward a common goal requires a powerful visual communication language. Images are easier to retain than words, so imagine adding a storytelling factor and turning a goal into a mountain to conquer. Presenters can work with this mountain PPT template and signal the different milestones to reach prior to fulfilling a significant goal for the company/organization.

Another take in inspirational presentations is when we need to share our success stories with investors or in networking environments to inspire others. With this roadmap PPT template, presenters can go stage by stage and present the key stages that made them reach their success, or even project for expected goals to achieve.

Academic presentations don’t have to look dull or excessively formal. We can incorporate a sleek layout into our slides and use icons to highlight key points. In this case, we observe a project overview for a research project, and the icons represent the main aspects to cover in this research.

A thesis presentation requires properly introducing the methodology to demonstrate the hypothesis. Rather than adding complex figures, we can work with a minimalistic slide design and briefly describe the research methods. This slide deck is suitable for thesis presentations as well as academic projects, research papers , and more.

As we can see, counting with a professionally designed slide deck makes a difference in how your presentation is perceived by the audience. By working with SlideModel PowerPoint templates, we can reuse and repurpose our slide templates as often as required or mix elements from different slides seen in these PowerPoint presentation examples to create uniquely styled slide decks.

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The complete guide to make a powerful business presentation (With examples)

Master the art of a powerful business presentation with key tips on creating engaging slides, and presenting with confidence.

Bharti Jain

Building presentations

Table of contents

Creating a compelling business presentation is a skill that can set you apart in the corporate world. Whether you're pitching a new idea, delivering a quarterly report, or engaging stakeholders, your presentation is more than just a series of slides; it's a tool for storytelling, persuasion, and action.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the essential elements of crafting and delivering business presentations that leave a lasting impression. From planning and design to execution, we’ll share actionable tips, strategies, and examples to ensure you’re prepared to captivate your audience every time.

The importance of a great business presentation

Think of a business presentation as your front-line ambassador—a dynamic showcase of your ideas, strategies, or vision that can either elevate your credibility or leave your audience unconvinced. Here's why mastering this skill is important:

• ‍ Drive decisions: A strong presentation persuades stakeholders to approve budgets, adopt strategies, or support new initiatives with confidence.
• ‍ Simplify the complex: Well-structured content and visuals make even the most complex ideas accessible and memorable.
• ‍ Showcase professionalism: A polished presentation reflects your attention to detail, credibility, and preparedness.

When done right, a business presentation delivers clarity and impact, ensuring your message resonates and leads to action.

Pre-presentation preparation

Creating a powerful business presentation begins long before you start designing slides. Success is rooted in preparation, and taking the right steps early can make your business presentation compelling, persuasive, and memorable. Here’s how to set the stage effectively:

a. Define your purpose

The first step to creating an impactful presentation is to clearly define your objective. What’s the strategic direction of your talk? Are you trying to persuade your audience to take action, inform them about a product or service, or inspire them with innovative ideas? Framing your story around a specific purpose ensures your presentation isn’t aimless.

⚡ Pro tip: Keep your presentation focused on one desired action. For example, a product pitch should drive home the benefits of your offering while addressing potential concerns.

b. Know your audience

Tailoring your communication style to connect with your audience is essential. Research their needs and expectations to ensure the information you are presenting resonates:

Level of knowledge: Avoid overly technical jargon if your audience isn’t familiar with the subject. Conversely, don’t oversimplify for experts.

Pain points and goals: Frame your story to address their concerns or align with their strategic direction.

Preferred style: Use clear bullet points, attention-grabbing visuals, and concise language to maintain the audience’s attention.

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c. Research thoroughly

Good presentations are built on credible, up-to-date information. Use reliable sources to gather data, insights, and statistics that support your key takeaways. Incorporating data visualizations such as graphs or charts makes your points more engaging and easier to understand.

Include visual aids: A well-designed PowerPoint slide with attention-grabbing animation or multimedia elements can go a long way in reinforcing your points.

Accuracy builds credibility: Establish your credibility by fact-checking every piece of data. Accurate content helps persuade your audience effectively.

d. Practice the “So what?” test

To make a business presentation that’s clear and impactful, apply the “So what?” test to every slide and bullet point. Ask yourself:

• Does this content serve the purpose of the presentation?
• Is it relevant to the audience’s needs or the action I want them to take?

If the answer is no, revise or remove it. For example, a persuasive business presentation should focus on benefits and solutions, leaving out extraneous details. A clear outline with essential points goes a long way in keeping the audience engaged.

Structuring your presentation

Structuring a presentation isn’t just about organizing content—it’s about crafting an experience for your audience. Borrowing from established communication models like Aristotle’s Rhetorical Triangle and the Minto Pyramid Principle , here’s how you can design a presentation that informs, persuades, and inspires, tailored for enterprise-level impact.

Introduction: Captivate with purpose

The first moments of your presentation set the stage for success. Use the Primacy Effect , which suggests audiences are more likely to remember the first things they hear.

Establish Ethos (Credibility): Briefly introduce yourself or your role to establish your authority on the subject. For example, “As the lead on this project, I’ve analyzed trends across all departments.”

State the agenda with precision: Use a structured agenda slide to give the audience a clear roadmap. This mirrors the Minto Pyramid Principle, which advocates for introducing the “answer first” before diving into details.

💡 Example: “We’ll discuss the challenges, explore proposed solutions, and outline the next steps.”

Main content: Build a persuasive narrative

Your main content should follow a logical hierarchy, like the Rule of Three , which says audiences process information better when grouped into threes.

Break it down into clear sections: Limit content to three to five key areas. Label sections with attention-grabbing subheadings like “Strategic Opportunities” or “Operational Roadblocks.”

Use data to build logos (Logical appeal): Incorporate visuals like graphs and charts to support your argument. For example, a graph showing year-over-year growth highlights progress clearly and effectively.

Maintain flow with signposting: Signposting keeps your audience on track. Phrases like, “Next, we’ll examine the risks,” or, “Let’s shift focus to cost optimization,” help orient your listeners.

Conclusion: Inspire and drive action

The conclusion is where you leverage the Recency Effect—the principle that people remember the last thing they hear best.

Recap using key takeaways: Summarize the core message and its implications, e.g., “By adopting these digital tools, we can cut processing times by 30%, saving $2M annually.”

Elicit pathos (Emotional appeal): Frame your call to action in a way that connects emotionally, such as highlighting the positive impact on teams or stakeholders.

End with a memorable prompt: A closing statement like, “Let’s commit to achieving this vision together,” inspires unity and action.

Designing visually appealing slides

A visually compelling slide deck is more than just a collection of text and images—it’s a critical tool for guiding your audience through your narrative, clarifying complex ideas, and ensuring your message resonates. Here’s how to design slides that enhance comprehension, inspire your audience, and leave a lasting impression:

a. Stick to a cohesive theme

Consistency in design creates a polished, professional look and keeps the audience focused on your content rather than distractions in your visuals.

Templates matter: Use pre-designed templates from tools like Prezent , PowerPoint or Google Slides to set the tone. A cohesive design template ensures consistent fonts, colors, and layouts.

Color psychology: Choose colors that align with your message—blue for trust, green for growth, and red for urgency.

Typography rules: Stick to only two presentation fonts —one for headings and one for body text. Avoid decorative fonts that might be hard to read in a conference room setting.

b. Limit text

Slides are visual aids, not your script. Overloading them with text detracts from your presentation’s effectiveness.

6x6 Rule: No more than six bullet points per slide, with no more than six words per point. This keeps slides concise and audience-friendly.

Words alone don’t work: Avoid reading directly from your slides—use them to emphasize key points while you expand verbally. Instead of a wall of text, summarize important ideas.

c. Use visuals strategically

The right visuals can make your slides memorable and clarify important concepts. Apply the Dual-Coding Theory , which states that people understand information better when presented in both visual and verbal formats.

Data visualizations : Replace dense tables with clean charts and graphs to communicate important information at a glance.

Images and icons: Use relevant images to evoke emotion and icons to simplify and break up text-heavy slides.

Multimedia elements: Incorporate short animations or videos to illustrate complex processes but use them sparingly to avoid distractions.

d. Leverage white space

White space isn’t empty—it’s essential. It helps structure your slides and directs your audience’s focus.

Avoid clutter: Leave ample space around text and visuals to improve readability. A clutter-free design ensures your slides don’t overwhelm the audience.

Hierarchy of information : Use white space to highlight the most important ideas, ensuring they stand out.

⚡ TED talk inspiration: Great presenters like those in TED Talks use visuals to amplify their stories, not replace them. Follow their lead by using slides to enhance—not duplicate—your spoken message.

Using storytelling techniques

Storytelling is a powerful way to captivate your audience and make your business presentation more memorable. Here’s how to integrate storytelling effectively, with examples:

a. Start with a hook

The opening moments of your presentation are critical for capturing attention. Again, use the Primacy Effect, which suggests people remember the first information they hear best, to your advantage.

Compelling statistic: For example, "Did you know 70% of businesses fail to achieve their annual goals due to unclear communication?"

Thought-provoking question: Ask a question that challenges assumptions, like, "What would it take to reduce your operational costs by 25% this year?"

Anecdote or metaphor: Start with a short, relatable story. For instance, “When launching our last product, we faced a challenge that seemed insurmountable. Here’s how we overcame it.”

A strong hook sets the tone for the entire presentation and draws your audience into your narrative.

b. Build a narrative Arc

Borrowing from classic storytelling frameworks like Freytag’s Pyramid or The Hero’s Journey , structure your presentation to guide your audience through a clear, engaging arc.

Setup (The problem): Introduce the current state or challenge. Use data visualizations (e.g., graphs) to highlight pain points or stakes.

💡 Example: “This year, our customer churn rate increased by 15%, impacting revenue and market share.”

Conflict (The challenge): Explore the complexity of the problem. This is the emotional core of your narrative where you involve the audience by addressing their concerns or stakes.

💡 Example: “We tried implementing new retention strategies, but they lacked scalability and didn’t deliver the results we needed.”

Resolution (The solution): Present your solution as the hero of the story. Highlight how it resolves the problem and leads to desired action.

💡Example: “By adopting predictive analytics, we’ve reduced churn by 25%, saving $1.5M annually.”

This structure helps you frame your story in a way that builds suspense, communicates important ideas, and drives home your solution.

c. Personalize it

People connect with stories that feel real and relatable. Use personal experiences, case studies, or tailored examples to make your presentation resonate.

Relatable examples: Share how your solution impacted a similar organization or team. For instance, “When we implemented this at a Fortune 500 company, they increased productivity by 40% within three months.”

Personal experiences: A presenter who shares their own journey adds authenticity. For example, “When I started leading this project, I had the same concerns you do. Here’s what changed my perspective.”

Audience relevance: Tailor your stories to your audience’s context. Executives might prefer high-level outcomes, while teams may value operational insights.

Personalization helps you connect with your audience and keeps them engaged throughout the presentation.

Engaging your audience

According to the Mehrabian Model of Communication theory, 55% of communication is body language, 38% is tone of voice, and only 7% is words. So, you need to prioritize delivery techniques to maximize engagement. By combining thoughtful delivery, interactive techniques, and adaptability, you can turn passive listeners into active participants. Here’s how:

a. Practice effective delivery

Effective delivery ensures your message resonates. Employ techniques rooted in public speaking and communication psychology:

Voice control: Vary your tone to emphasize important points and avoid monotony. For example, raise your pitch slightly when introducing key takeaways and lower it to convey seriousness.

Body language: Maintain an open posture, use purposeful gestures to reinforce ideas, and make consistent eye contact to build trust. Avoid closed stances like crossed arms, which can disengage the audience.

Pacing and pausing: Use strategic pauses to let important information sink in. For instance, after presenting a critical slide in a PowerPoint presentation, pause briefly to let the audience absorb the data.

These techniques not only help you boost your confidence but also make your presentation more dynamic and memorable.

b. Encourage interaction

Interactive elements make presentations engaging and help your audience retain information. Consider these methods:

Ask open-ended questions: Spark dialogue by inviting input, e.g., “ How do you think this strategy could apply to your department?”

Use interactive tools: Platforms like Slido and Mentimeter allow for live polls or audience Q&A sessions, breaking the monotony and fostering participation.

Involve the audience actively: Incorporate prompts like, “Take a moment to reflect on this data—what stands out most to you?” This creates a conversational tone and keeps attendees attentive.

c. Adapt in real-time

Flexibility is essential for delivering presentations effectively in diverse settings. Use real-time feedback to adjust your approach:

Read the room: Pay attention to non-verbal cues like nods, expressions, and posture. If the audience seems disengaged, switch to a more interactive section or ask a thought-provoking question.

Tailor delivery on the fly: For example, if your audience already knows foundational information, spend less time there and dive deeper into advanced concepts.

Address concerns promptly: During a Q&A session, listen actively and provide concise, relevant answers. Being prepared to answer tough questions establishes your credibility and builds trust.

Adapting ensures your presentation stays relevant and aligned with the audience’s needs and expectations.

Great business presentation examples

Examining successful presentations can inspire your approach and help you make an effective business presentation that stands out. Here are some standout examples with actionable insights:

Example 1: Steve Jobs’ iPhone launch (2007)

• Why it worked: Jobs’ presentation nailed the art of storytelling, combining a dramatic narrative with minimalist presentation design. His precise timing and simple slides let the audience focus on his key points, making it one of the most powerful presentations of its time.
• Takeaway: For your next pitch, limit the number of slides and use visuals sparingly to amplify critical moments. A well-placed reveal can keep your audience on the edge of their seats, eager to see what’s coming.

Example 2: Airbnb’s early pitch deck

• Why it worked: Airbnb’s deck showcased the value of clear structure and concise content. It effectively highlighted the problem, solution, and market opportunity with a few impactful slides—demonstrating how business presentations are used to persuade.
• Takeaway: To make a presentation compelling, focus on clarity. Use your presentation software to create clean visuals that reinforce your message. Remember, less is often more within your presentation.

Example 3: TED talks

• Why they work: TED speakers focus on connection, pacing, and stories to deliver informative business insights in a memorable way. They often rehearse extensively to ensure seamless delivery, showing the importance of preparation in giving presentations.
• Takeaway: Rehearse your delivery to nail transitions and refine your tone. Consider storytelling as a tool to engage your audience and embed emotional resonance into your narrative.

Example 4: Barack Obama’s keynote speeches

• Why they work: Obama’s speeches are masterclasses in rhythm and inclusivity, blending repetition with accessible metaphors to drive points home. This type of presentation creates unity and inspires action.
• Takeaway: Adapt these techniques to deliver a business presentation that resonates. Structure your speech to reflect the values and priorities your audience knows and cares about.

The best tool to create effective business presentations in 90% less time!

If you’re looking to create impactful business presentations without spending countless hours tweaking slides, Prezent is a game-changer. Designed specifically for busy professionals, Prezent leverages AI-powered technology to streamline the creation process, allowing you to focus on content and strategy rather than design. Here are the key features of Prezent

AI-powered content generation

At the heart of Prezent is ASTRID AI , a sophisticated assistant that utilizes advanced AI models—including computer vision and natural language processing—to automate content creation. This technology enables users to generate hyper-personalized, brand-compliant presentations in seconds, tailored to specific audience preferences and contextual relevance.

Extensive slide and storyline libraries

Prezent offers access to over 35,000 company brand-approved slides and more than 1,000 expert-curated storylines. This vast repository allows users to build presentations such as business plans or project updates efficiently, ensuring both speed and adherence to brand standards.

⚡⚡ Get thousands of editable business presentations designed by professionals by creating a free account!  

Template conversion and brand compliance

The platform's Template Converter feature facilitates the seamless transformation of existing slides into any brand template, maintaining 100% brand compliance. This ensures consistency across all presentations, reinforcing the organization's brand identity.

Executive summary synthesis

Prezent's Synthesis tool enables users to generate concise, brand-aligned executive summaries effortlessly, distilling complex presentations into digestible formats for quick stakeholder review.

Learning and development resources

It offers bite-sized, gamified learning modules on business communication, allowing users to enhance their presentation skills at their own pace. These resources support continuous learning and skill-building across all organizational levels.

By harnessing advanced AI capabilities, Prezent empowers professionals to deliver compelling presentations that resonate with their audience, all while reclaiming valuable time.

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How to Create the Best PowerPoint Presentations [Examples & Templates]

Discover what makes the best PowerPoint presentations with these examples to inspire you.

10 FREE POWERPOINT TEMPLATES

Download ten free PowerPoint templates for a better presentation.

Updated: 05/15/24

Published: 08/18/13

Creating the best PowerPoint presentation isn’t just about slapping facts and figures together or dazzling with snazzy graphics — it’s an art form.

During my time at HubSpot, I created a lot of presentations. Since then, I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the PowerPoints desperately crying for a makeover. I’ve learned that the secret isn’t just in the text or visuals but in how you serve it up.

In this guide, I’ll share some pro tips on how to make the best PowerPoint presentation. You’ll learn how to hold your audience’s attention and drive your message home with clarity. Plus, I’ll share real-life examples to inspire you.

What Good Presents Have in Common

Best PowerPoint Presentations

What do good presentations have in common.

I’ve discovered that five elements are a must-have when creating a great presentation . Let’s look at each one.

1. The presentation is highly relevant to the audience.

A lot goes into creating presentations that hit the mark. First, I clearly define my audience. Then, I choose topics that genuinely interest them, offer actionable advice, answer their questions, or address their pain points.

But this isn’t just my strategy. Mike O’Neill , founder and CEO of Backspace Travel , a modern travel agency, also talks about things that matter to his audience. He says, “We conduct dry runs with a smaller group to gather feedback and refine the presentation. Testing the presentation with colleagues allows us to identify areas that resonate [with our audience] or need improvement before the final delivery.”

I’ve found that crafting a captivating title influences how receptive my audience will be. For example, instead of a bland title like “New Product Features,” I’d go with something more intriguing like “Discover the Hidden Gems of Our Latest Product Features.”

It makes my audience wonder what those hidden gems are and still lets them know it’s about new product features.

10 Free PowerPoint Templates

• Creative templates.
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• Professional templates.

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2. The presentation has a clear objective.

As a former content manager and strategist at HubSpot, I learned the importance of setting audience expectations. Whether it’s a new project, a marketing strategy , or even a sales pitch, I made sure my slides and commentary tied back to the key takeaways I wanted my audience to remember.

Alexandria Agresta , a corporate trainer and leadership development expert, uses what she calls the three Ps of a presentation:

• Purpose. What’s the purpose of the presentation?
• Challenge. What’s the challenge your audience is facing?
• Possible. What outcome do they desire?

She says this process empowers her to convey her message in a way that resonates with her audience. Once she establishes the three Ps, she creates a clear, concise outline that includes key points and topics she hopes to cover.

“I then create a dedicated slide at the beginning of the presentation that succinctly outlines what will be covered during the presentation. This sets expectations for the audience and gives them a roadmap of what to expect,” Agresta says.

Whatever the topic, highlight your key takeaways on a specific slide (ideally the cover slide), so your audience clearly understands what your presentation is about from the get-go.

3. The presentation follows an organized storyline.

One thing I’ve learned about presentations is that it isn’t just about conveying information; it’s about telling a story that guides your audience from start to finish. Each slide is a chapter that leads to a satisfying conclusion.

There are many ways to infuse storytelling into your presentations. You can get as creative as you want, like Aaron Wertheimer , a full-time SEO marketing copywriter for Marketing Reel , does.

He says, “I infuse storytelling into my PowerPoint presentations by including a Bitmoji sticker of myself as it relates to each slide, and I demarcate each slide with verbiage to indicate which part of the sequence we are currently at in the presentation.”

Just make sure to have a beginning, a middle, and an end so you can clearly demonstrate the point you’re leading towards.

4. The audience understands the next steps.

When creating my presentations, I always specify the action I want my audience to take by the time we conclude. Do I want them to sign up for a service? Consider a new perspective? Remember key points?

Chirag Nijjer , a customer success lead at Google, usually wraps up his presentations with two CTAs: one that’s beneficial to him and one that benefits his audience. His presentations are more impactful when he combines both CTAs.

He explains with an example: “If I’m presenting to a group of professors who intend to use the info to teach their students, I’d write, ‘Would you like access to the summary slides and a list of project ideas for your students to learn this topic? Fill out the feedback form and give me your email address.’”

I can see why this method works. The email address allows him to contact his audience, and he also benefits them by teaching them how to turn his presentations into valuable action. It’s like killing two birds with one stone!

Remember, though, if you want your audience to perform an action after your presentation, be clear about what you want them to do next.

5. The audience leaves with contact information and/or resources.

I’ve observed that at the end of my presentations, most attendees want more information or a chance to discuss the topic further.

That’s why I always provide my contact details or additional resources. So, if anyone wants to reach out for a one-on-one chat or read further, they’ll have what they need to delve deeper into the material.

For example, after a presentation on digital marketing strategies , I might provide my email address and invite attendees to reach out if they have any questions. I could also share a list of recommended books, articles, or even YouTube videos for those who want to take their digital marketing journey to the next level.

How to Do the Best Powerpoint Presentation

Now that I’ve covered what to look for in a killer slide deck, let’s jump right in and talk about how you can make your next presentation unforgettable.

1. Less is more.

I’ve used PowerPoint a lot, and it’s tempting to pack slides with flashy graphics and tons of text. However, I learned the hard way that less is often more.

Once, I was tasked with presenting a new content strategy to the marketing team. Eager to impress, I packed my slides with stunning visuals, intricate graphs, and loads of text explaining every detail of the strategy.

I thought the more information there was, the better. But as I started presenting, I quickly realized my mistake.

The team seemed overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information on the slides. They were so busy trying to decipher the infographics and read the tiny texts that they missed out on the main points I was trying to convey.

In the end, I could sense that I hadn’t made the impact I had hoped for. It was a humbling experience, but it taught me a valuable lesson: simplicity is key.

Since then, I’ve made a conscious effort to streamline my presentations with a clear message and avoid complex details that could distract my audience.

Here are some key points to always remember:

• Let the focus be on your message instead of the slides themselves.
• Keep the slides relevant and simple enough so people can pay attention to what you’re saying.
• Your visuals and fonts should support your message, not steal the spotlight.

2. Keep text to a minimum.

From my experience, you can tell that adding too much text overwhelms people, and instead of listening to you, they focus on trying to read the slides. And that’s not what you want. You want your audience to be engaged, hanging onto your every word, not trying to decipher paragraphs of text.

So, use fewer words in large fonts. That way, you’ll make sure everyone, from the front row to the back, sees what’s on the screen without squinting.

3. Rethink visuals.

People are 30 times more likely to read infographics than written articles. This stat just puts a stamp on what I’ve said about reducing the amount of text in your presentations. It’s like a neon sign screaming: “Less text, more visuals!”

However, that doesn’t mean you can just throw some nice-looking photos onto your pitch deck and move on. Like any other content strategy, your visual game must be on point and relevant.

Let me share the different types of visuals I’ve come across in my years of doing presentations to help you figure out what works best.

PowerPoint templates have come a long way since Microsoft first unveiled the program to the world, and I occasionally use them in my presentations.

However, to make my PowerPoint slides stand out, I always opt for a theme that my audience hasn’t seen dozens of times before — one that vibes with my brand and fits the topic I’m talking about.

Sometimes, I explore presentation platforms other than PowerPoint (like Prezi) to discover fresh templates. There are also tons of visual content design sites that offer customizable templates I can tweak to match my brand and topic perfectly.

Canva is one of my favorites. It offers a plethora of templates and allows me to create presentations from scratch.

I’ve also tested out Venngage’s free presentation maker and found it super handy for getting eye-catching slide templates, icons, and high-quality stock photos for my PowerPoint tutorials.

Image Source

Pro tip: Download our 10 PowerPoint presentation templates for free to simplify your design process. Each template is made to add that extra flair to your presentation so that your slideshows not only look great but also resonate deeply with your audience.

Charts and Graphs

One of my favorite ways to back up what I’m saying in my presentation is to toss in some stats and data visualization. Charts and graphs jazz things up and make the numbers way more interesting.

However, I don’t just share the facts; I let my audience know the story behind those numbers. For example, instead of just presenting quarterly sales figures to my team, I would highlight the challenges we faced, the strategies we implemented, and the victories we celebrated to arrive at those digits.

One thing you always need to do, though, is to make sure your charts and graphs blend in seamlessly with the rest of your presentation’s visual theme. Otherwise, these graphics are more likely to steal the show than help you get your point across.

Color Scheme

I understand that colors can really play with my audience’s emotions. So, even if I’m not trying to close a deal with my presentation, I might want to stir up specific feelings or impressions, and the color palette I choose can help with that.

Max Shak , founder and CEO of nerDigital , even considers cultural differences and color associations to make sure his presentations hit the right notes with diverse audiences.

I’d recommend checking out Coschedule’s guide to color psychology in marketing . It’s a goldmine of how different tones, shades, and color combinations can sway buying decisions. You’ll definitely elevate your presentation game by following this guide.

When I add text to my slide decks, I want it to be simple enough for everyone to read. If it’s tiny or crammed, people end up squinting and missing out on what I’m saying.

That’s why I recommend using web-safe fonts like Sans-Serif or Arial. They’re easy on the eyes and can display correctly even if a user hasn’t installed them on their computer.

4. Incorporate multimedia.

I could talk about something all day long, but it won’t have the same impact as showing it to you.

That’s where multimedia comes in — it’s the secret sauce for keeping people engaged in your presentations.

When I do a simple Google search for “ music in presentations ,” it pulls up a bunch of results that talk about how to add music to my slide decks. From this, it’s clear that using music in my presentations is a unique way to engage my audience or at least set a welcoming tone before and after I speak.

But if you want people glued to your slideshows throughout your presentation, incorporate videos. I mean, a whopping 96% of individuals admit they tune into explainer videos to learn more about a product.

So why not give people what they want? Videos can bring theories to life in a way that words or photos alone just can’t match.

In my years of experience, I’ve come across many pitch decks, and the best ones always cut through the clutter. In this section, I’ll share 16 PowerPoint presentation examples that sets the bar for what a professional presentation should look like.

1. The HubSpot Culture Code by HubSpot Co-founder Dharmesh Shah

Not to sing our own praises, but The HubSpot Culture Code has been one of our most successful presentations. The secret? Shah chooses a central theme — the acronym HEART (humble, empathetic, adaptable, remarkable, and transparent).

This acronym embodies our company’s values while providing a central message for the presentation. Plus, heart icons on the slides make the connection clear.

I like the style and message of this presentation. It sticks to our brand colors and fonts and makes everything super clear and easy on the eyes.

I especially enjoy the superhero theme on slide 26 — it’s a fun way to say that we’re all about empowering our customers to be their best. It elevates the idea of customer support from a duty to a mission, which I find very motivating.

2. 2022 Women in the Workplace Briefing by McKinsey & Company

This slide deck lays out key data from McKinsey’s 2022 research on women in the workplace. It uses a mix of graphs, images, and other visual representations to illustrate how the expectations women face at work have evolved over time.

I’m impressed by how they’ve maintained their brand colors throughout the presentation. I’m a big fan of consistency, and this slideshow nails it by sticking to its color scheme from start to finish. It creates a cohesive look and reinforces their brand identity , which makes the presentation look professional.

Another thing I like about it is that the titles immediately say what each slide is about. It helps you navigate the presentation effortlessly and keeps you focused on the main points.

3. SEO, PPC, and AI in 2023 and Beyond by Lily Ray

Lily Ray and Inna Zeyger from Amsive Digital took inspiration from the world of science fiction. It’s pretty cool how they playfully bring in imagery from movies like “Blade Runner“ and “Ghost in the Shell” when talking about AI and the future of marketing in their SlideShare presentation .

The whole futuristic vibe with vibrant colors grabs my attention right away. It’s a fresh break from the usual bland corporate stuff, and they do a fantastic job of making sure you enjoy their presentation while learning something new.

4. ChatGPT: What It Is and How Writers Can Use It by Adsy

We all get writer’s block sometimes. Trust me, I’ve been there, staring at a blinking cursor, feeling the frustration build up. But ChatGPT acts like a trusted sidekick, nudging me along and whispering, “Hey, how about this idea?”

This presentation breaks down what ChatGPT is, its limitations, and more importantly, what it can do. I find it pretty helpful, especially if you’re new to the AI chatbot.

One thing I like most about the SlideShare presentation is that it has a lot of use cases that can inspire you. For example, if it tells you ChatGPT can write a YouTube script, it shows you the prompt the creator used and the results they got.

I also love how it uses a combination of bold white text against a blue background or black and blue text on a white background to call out important headings. And those key definitions are right there in the center, surrounded by all that whitespace , practically begging you to take a closer look.

5. Insights from the 2022 Legal Trends Report by Clio

I’m a big advocate of adding visuals to your business presentations. But it doesn’t have to be the same old boring office stock photos. Take a cue from Clio’s presentation.

Clio has incorporated abstract elements to keep things fresh — simple shapes like triangles, rectangles, and circles. These shapes blend seamlessly with different charts and graphs, adding an artistic touch to the slide decks.

6. Email Marketing Trends by Gabriel Blanchet

Gabriel Blanchet creates a short presentation to explain some key elements of email marketing and its trends to show us why it’s still a valuable tool despite the rise of social media.

What do I love about these slides? They’re awesome. Bright colors, clean visuals — they’ve got it all. What seals the deal for me is how Gabriel breaks down each point and explains why it matters.

7. 2022 GWI’s Social Report by GWI

I’m really impressed by how Leticia Xavier uses different shades of pink and purple to add some contrast to the slides. Everything, from the graphs to the backgrounds and images, sticks to this same color palette.

If I’m ever worried about my visuals not contrasting enough, I’ll definitely draw inspiration from Leticia’s color palette. Pick one or two colors and play around with different shades and tones to tie the slides together and make them pop.

8. Digital 2023 Global Overview Report by DataReportal

I chose this slide deck from DataReportal because it reminds me that strong contrast between text and background is crucial. It’s what makes my slides easy to scan.

The presentation uses a dark background throughout. The graphs and icons pop in bright orange, red, blue, and green, while the text keeps it white.

That said, if you’re prepping for an in-person presentation, think about the room. If it’s dim with the lights off, a dark background like this is spot on. But if it’s all bright and sunny, stick to a light background with dark text.

9. ThinkNow Culture Report 2022 by ThinkNow

ThinkNow impresses me with how they’ve mixed magenta and yellow in the background of their PowerPoint design. Meanwhile, the graphs stick to classic black and white. It’s a smart move that creates sharp contrast and makes the visual elements easy to scan.

Plus, I appreciate how the headers are in a readable font, summarizing what each slide covers.

10. Team Training Presentation By Visme

Visme helps you tell stories visually and beautifully with powerful presentations. I love how it is spiced up by adding relevant visuals that create excitement, thrill, and interactivity. It has enough whitespace that makes it stand out both for online meetings and in-person presentations. You can always change color themes, background images, or text to align it with your brand.

11. 2023 Metro CERT Annual Event by MNCERTs

I’m surprised by how simple this Metro CERT presentation is. It displays just a few words per slide, all in big, bold fonts. The contrast between the blue and yellow colors is striking and makes everything really pop.

And you know what’s even more creative? There are loads of images of people sprinkled throughout. It adds a nice personal touch that keeps things interesting.

12. Pecan Creek Winery 2023 in Pictures Presentations

As I was going through Pekan Creek Winery’s business presentation, I noticed how it sticks to a simple color palette of just white and black. It’s clean and sleek and lets the content shine without any distractions.

It’s also packed with loads of pictures that showcase events and the wine-making process. That’s exactly how you craft a presentation that gets people pumped up about your brand.

13. LLMs in Healthcare and Pharma. VTI day

This engaging presentation impresses me with its visuals. From charts to photos and even some fun animations, it’s got a little bit of everything to keep its audience hooked.

It keeps the fonts simple, which I appreciate. Plus, those bright background colors make the black and blue text stand out.

The presentation is also spiced up by the story of a dog named Sassy. It adds a personal touch. And who doesn’t like a good story? It’s a surefire way to keep attendees glued to your presentation.

14. Exploring Advanced API Security Techniques and Technologies by Sudhir Chepeni

The next time I do a data-heavy presentation, I’ll take some inspiration from Sudhir Chepeni’s slide designs. The dark background paired with bright text commands attention. And those simple, readable fonts make it easy to digest the information.

Plus, I admire how he sprinkled charts and data throughout. It keeps things interesting and breaks up the text nicely.

15. Competition in Energy Markets by Georg Zachmann

Simplifying technical information can be a tough nut to crack, especially when you have to explain it in a slide deck. But Georg Zachmann isn’t afraid of the challenge.

He uses graphs and charts to break down complex technical issues about the energy crisis into clear visual representations, which I really love.

I also noticed the big, bold headings that immediately tell you what each slide is about. You can skim the document quickly and hone in on the key points you need to know.

16. 10 Things That Helped Me Advance My Career by Thijs Feryn

This presentation impresses me right from the cover slide. The image of a man ascending the stairs captures a sense of effort and accomplishment, which is precisely what the presentation is all about.

The keynote speaker, Thijs Feryn, nails it with the storytelling aspect. Each slide feels like a new chapter unfolding and transitioning seamlessly into the next.

And the visuals? They’re top-notch — from captivating photos to lively animations and even a handy map. Plus, those bright colors and huge text fonts make sure every detail pops, even for the person chilling in the back row.

Create the Best PowerPoint Presentation Designs

As someone who’s created countless presentations, I’ve seen firsthand the transformation that happens when you put a little soul into those slide layouts — whether adding sleek visuals, cutting down on clutter, or weaving a story that carries your message.

Implement the tips I’ve discussed here so that each slide can act as a stepping stone that gently guides your audience to where you want them next. These little touches can turn a good slide deck into your best PowerPoint presentation yet.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in March 2023 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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